Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-10

at supper in the hotel, and had Just stated
to the guests that the enemy had crossed
the river in too strong force for us ard that
We would have 10 fall back at daylight,
which order was given and partly executed.
Gen. Evans ordered Capt. Edmund Berkeley
to march the prisoners, including number
previously captured and who we're under
guard in the courthouse yard, TO Camp Car
oina, just outside the town, and await fur
tier orders. This was accordingly dore
and the prisoners formed in line and found
to number, if recollect Alright, 700 DriVates
ard 81 commissioned officers, including sew.
cral Colonies. In short time Capt Single
ton, with two Mississippi companies. arrived
and told Capt. Berkeley that ne had been or
dsred by Gen. Evans 10 relieve him of the
prisoners. On seeing considerable coil Of
rope on his horses neck L asked him what ne
proposed doing with so much rope. He re
piled that Gen. Evans had ordered him TO
tie the prisoners bands behind their backs
and march them down to Gen. Beaure-
gard, at Centreville. / enquired if he was
ordered to treat the officers in that way,
and he said he was SO ordered. | told him
it was the most unnecessary and cruel order
ever issued; that the night was dark and
rainy and the road covered with stone, over
which the men would be falling every few
steps, MASKING their faces beyond recogni-
ton: that they, after falling, would have
to be raised and placed on their 'eet, ard it
would take him ell night to travel d mile.
Besides" / said, "you have not rope
enough to tie one twentieth part of the num-
ber." Capt. Singleton agreed with me, and
asked me to get on his horse and ride into
town and inform Gen. Evans that he could
not obtain rope enough to carry out his
order. Capt. r. II. Carter, who bad &C
companed me cut, volunteered to carry the
message to Gen. Evans, and came back with
the reply tina. Capt. Singleton might do
with them as he id pleased" Ia this con.
nection I will say that report of some
Mississippi captain, who said he was officer
OF the day, has been published in some work
on the war, in which ne assumes to have
taken q principal part in capturing the
prisoners below the bluff. The credit be
deserves is for having an exceedingly lively
Imagination. Another force of the enemy
had crossed the river at Edwards Ferry,
several miles lower down, and having lost
their boats they entrenched themselves and
remained all the next day. This force
would also undoubtedly have been cap
tured, if Gen. Evans had acceded TO the re-
quest OF COL B.rksdale to be allowed to at.
tack them. There are hundreds of witnesses
who can confirm the truthfulness CT the
above account. among whom l could name
Gen. Epps Hunton, Col. Singleton, mem
Der of Congress from Mississippi; Col. e. V.
White, now distinguished divine. and one
of your city merchants, Mr.. Frank Kelly,
who was participant 10 the fight, being q
member Of the old Eighth. Had it been
proposed TO give Gen. Evans medal for
distinguished galaatry at the first Manas-
sas. would have heartily endorsed the
proposition, but 10 give him one for dis
tinguished gallantry at Leesburg, where the
entire fight was hidden from his view by
the woods. aud where he had no opportu
nifty of showing gallantry Of any kind, is
the biggest kind OF humbuggery. South
Carolina has many sons whom she should
delight to honor, foremost among whom are
the gallant Jenkins and Hampton. 1t was
my fortune to witness display of distin
guiahed gallantry by the former on two oc
casions-Frazier's farm and the second Ma.
nassas The true hero OF the battle that
made Gen. Evans Major General, was
Gen. Eppa Hunton. 3.